Month: May 2015

The ECHL has named the four referees and five linesmen slated to work the 2015 Kelly Cup Finals. The officials have been selected, according to the league, ‘based on the merit of their performance over the course of the regular season and their work thus far in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.’ Your 2015 Kelly Cup Finals officials are: Referees: Pierre Lambert, Frederic Leblanc, Ryan Murphy, and Stephen Reneau Linesmen: Ryan Daisy, Francois Dussureault, Shaun Morgan, Patrick Richardson, and Steven Walsh As was the case during the Conference Finals, all games during the Kelly Cup Finals will utilize the two-referee...

In his 17-year career, Marian Hossa has scored 534 goals across the regular season and playoffs. Most have come from his stick. In Game 7 of the 2015 Western Conference Final, Hossa scored the game-winning goal with his skate. Referee Kelly Sutherland immediately called it a goal on the ice. Of course, the NHL’s Situation Room took another look at the play. The NHL’s official ruling: At 13:45 of the second period in the Chicago Blackhawks/Anaheim Ducks game, video review supported the referee’s call on the ice that the puck deflected off Marian Hossa’s skate and into the...

Referee Kevin Pollock explains a non-call on Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle after Tampa forward Ondrej Palat is taken out in front of the Ranger net. Pollock: Hey, I got him cutting right into him. He’s playing D, and your guy cuts right into him and that’s where the collision comes and they go down. I don’t have him tripping his legs. Stamkos: He grabs his stick though Pollock: You know what, okay, so look — look where I am. Stamkos: “Yeah, I know” Pollock: “So I can’t see him grab the stick from here, right? I can only see the...

The Quebec Remparts face their QMJHL-rival Rimouski Oceanic on a rematch on Thursday night, both vying for a spot against the Kelowna Rockets in the Memorial Cup semifinal. It wasn’t the Oceanic that drew the ire of Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher after his team’s 4-0 loss to Rimouski on Wednesday, though. It was the officials. Boucher called out referees Jonathan Alarie and Olivier Gouin after the game. Quebec was whistled for six penalties, with Rimouski going 2-for-6 with the man advantage. Of course, Boucher was already concerned coming into the game. He didn’t expect to see Alarie and...

New York center Dominic Moore has been the Rangers’ top faceoff man against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He went 37-for-66 over the first five games, winning 56% of his draws. In Game 5, though, he struggled at the dot, going just 2-for-8. During Game 6, Moore had a conversation with referee Chris Rooney about a possible strategy employed by the Lightning that may have been impacting his success in the faceoff circle. Moore: Can you do me a favor? Rooney: Yeah. Moore: One of their [faceoff] plays is for their wingers to come in and kick my feet...

What is it with ECHL Referee Stephen Reneau and playoff overtime? After working the longest game in ECHL history last season, Reneau is once again tacking on the extra mileage. He suited up alongside referee Pierre Lambert for Games 6 and 7 between the South Carolina Stingrays and the Toledo Walleye. Both went to overtime. Game 6 was settled a reasonable 4:30 into the extra session. Game 7, though, took quite a bit longer. It wasn’t until the 5:35 mark of the third overtime that South Carolina’s Joe Devin finally broke through with the only goal of the game....

Referee Dan O’Halloran gives a terrific explanation to Tampa Bay center Brian Boyle on a Too Many Men call against the Lightning. Boyle: “Hey, Danny [O’Halloran], I just couldn’t open the door!” O’Halloran: “If I see the guy that you replaced, though, which is your forward guy, and you’re still on the ice there, and he plays the [Rangers] guy here with his stick… If he doesn’t play the guy, play on, because you’re within five feet. The five feet rule isn’t applicable once he plays the guy.” (Stick tap to Chris Peters of CBS Sports on catching this...

It’s seventh heaven tonight in the ECHL. For the first time in ECHL history, both Conference Finals require Game 7s to determine which teams will move on to the Kelly Cup Finals. Both those Game 7s are happening tonight. Eastern Conference Final South Carolina Stingrays at Toledo Walleye – 7:35pm EDT Referees: Pierre Lambert, Stephen Reneau Linesmen: Pat Richardson, Francois Dussureault Western Conference Final Ontario Reign at Allen Americans – 8:05pm EDT Referees: Fred Leblanc, Ryan Murphy Linesmen: Shaun Morgan, Ryan Daisy Tonight’s games are available online via ECHL.tv. With tonight’s games, the 2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs will set a...